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PSC Provides Support for Returning Adult Students


Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– A military veteran. A father in his 20s. A mother with grown children. A laid off airline worker. What do these people have in common? They all enrolled at Prairie State College (PSC) as returning adult students.

“PSC understands returning to college as an adult student can be overwhelming,” said Diane Janowiak, coordinator of New Directions for Returning Adults. “Most of our adult students have discovered the hardest part isn’t the schoolwork, the time, or the scheduling, it’s taking the first step.”

PSC offers its returning adult students flexible class scheduling, a location close to home, a wide variety of career choices, and a supportive environment to assure they succeed. Returning adult students choose to start their education at PSC for a variety of reasons.

For example, after working in the airline industry for 30 years, Alanda Gray, of Matteson, had a choice to make when her company was sold: retire early or relocate. Deciding that neither was an option, she enrolled in PSC’s networking program. After earning her certificate, Gray is actively working as a Webmaster.

“PSC was close to home and affordable. The college provides returning adults with an excellent support system,” said Gray. “Thanks to my Prairie State education, I have a thriving career.”

A mother of two, Diana Gudowski, of Munster, Ind., also found an excellent support system at PSC. She took a couple of classes a semester in the photography program while she worked part-time and took care of her family.

“PSC offered me the flexibility to earn a degree,” said Gudowski. “The teachers were wonderful, and I enjoyed coming to school. PSC became my second family.”

Like many PSC returning adult students, Jason Fosco, of Flossmoor, decided he needed training for a career. He enrolled in PSC’s automotive technology program because of the program’s reputation, the flexible class schedule, and location from home.

“PSC is great because I get hands-on training in my field from instructors with real world experience,” said Fosco. “The college offers the classes at times that fit my schedule so I could still take care of my son.”

Like Fosco, Michael Hopkins, of Peotone, came to PSC because it was close to home and offered a flexible schedule. After completing his general education courses, Hopkins transferred to Governors State University to earn a bachelor’s and master’s and then attended The John Marshall Law School to earn his Juris Doctorate. He is now an attorney at a law firm in Joliet.

“Prairie State was close to home and affordable,” said Hopkins. “More importantly, it offered me a great opportunity to get a college education while I continued to work and support my family. My education at PSC laid the foundation I needed to take my education – and career – farther than I ever thought possible.”

Adult students thinking of starting or continuing their college education can take the first step and attend a free information session. The event, called New Directions, will be held on Wednesday, August 12, at 6 p.m., in the Business and Community Education Center located on the college’s main campus, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights.

The New Directions session includes an overview of available academic programs and services, general orientation information, financial aid, and the how to register.

To register for New Directions, visit prairiestate.edu/counselingAdvising/returningadults.html. For those who can’t attend, but want to learn more about starting their college career can contact Janowiak at [email protected] or (708) 709-3603.


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